Serving Up TheirBestSeason

ump! Slam! Spike! Serve!Set! Could itbe a fight scene from Batman and Robin, or maybe names ot a new TV game show? What it means isall part of an exciting sport at LBC. That sport isWomen's Volleyball. With a record of 15 wins and 6 losses, the Women's Volleyball team served up itsbest season ever. The "Lady Flames" played an outstanding game against Virginia Intermont. They came from a score of 6-14 to win the game and the match Another highlight was a split match with Radford College Itwas the Flames first time ever to beat them

But along with the enthusiasm that winning brings,the volleyball team suffered some disappointments Even though they outplayed Emory and Henry, near

Serving Up Their Best Season cont.

the close of their season, the girls were still defeated Also, the team captain, Dawna Blank, suffered a knee injury halfway through the season This kept her from participatingin therestofthegames "I really missed playing inthe games,but the Lord really blessed us a lot",recalls Dawna "We are looking forward to a greater season next year."

Under the leadership and spirit of Beth Glass, the team pulled together Beth, who plays hitter and setter, really thrives on volleyball "The game isso exciting tome.Ijustloveit! When everyone works together, itcomes out great!"

Bill Vassiliou, from Australia, wasthe technical coach for the team this year

When asked the secret formula forsuccess, Bill confided, "The girls are smart and tough, and they love the game Also, we're playing a new offense which lets us attack the net more That alone gave us many points this year."

WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL TEAM: (front row) Teresa Bradley, Joni Merrill, Mary May, Tammy Wells, (second row) Wendy Murphree Julie Smiley, Beth Glass, Marcia Mathis, Diane Super, (back row) Manager Kimbra Ferguson, Coach Bill Vassiliou, Dawna Blank, Kathy Harper, Patty Mathis, Sandy Hefley, Jayne Mottershead, Head Coach Brenda Bonheim mor two years the Flames basketball team had been in a rebuilding process putting together the elements that would bring LBC a winning ballclub The newswriters were saying a third year would be necessary before a winning tradition could be established They saidtheFlames would be doingwell to win nine games But a determined team with a new coach wasn't listening. Midway through the season they reeled off a six game win streak (4 of them in just 6 days) to give them 10 wins, and it was only January 16.

The turnaround actually happened early in the season when the team travelled to Indiana for the 13th annual Taylor University Tournament Taylor had dominated the tourney with nine championships, and the Flames were considered the underdogs by a long shot Upsetting Marian College in the opening round by 1 point,the Flames gained the opportunity to play top-seeded Taylor With Taylor favored by 22 points,the Flames, as Coach Dale Gibson putit, ".. puttogetherthebestpureoffensive team execution of the year." Shooting a sizzling67 % from thefloorthey connected for a season high of 115 points crushing Taylor by 29 pointstowinthe tournament trophy. A total of 7 season highs were achieved in that game.

New Year's week took the team to another tournament, this time in South Carolina, where several NAIA powerhouses had met for the New Year's Classic Again distinct underdogs,the Flames battled strong Presbyterian College to a tie at the end of regulation time (Presbyterian had defeated LBC by 14 points earlier in the season.) Although Liberty came up short by 4 points in overtime, they had made a definite impression that LBC was to be respected. One night later they proved their strength again by defeating Wingate College 8480

The real fireworks of the season happened on LBC's home court (Jefferson Forest H.S.) on February 6 against Radford College Radford was boasting a 19 game winning streak and claims of being the best small college team in the state Even LBC had been avictim of their assaults when they lost an earlier game to them by 22 points

However, this time things were different The standswere jammed withscreaming fans demanding an upset The players were inspired and determined Excitement was at itspeak The game progressed "nip and tuck" with Radford never able to build any kind of advantage. As the seconds ticked away the tension mounted, yettheFlames never allowed thepressure to shake them.

Not To Be Taken Lightly cont.

Then late in the second half Radford finally reached an 8 point lead,largest of the game. Stillthe players didn't quit, and here Coach Gibson stated, "The sixth man took over." He was referring to the crowd that had literally exploded into a frenzy Radford went into a freeze to hold off the Flames,but the uproar of the crowd broke their concentration They couldn't hang onto the ball From there to the end of the game, LBC shot 12 times hitting 9 baskets. Vickers hit 5 in a row at one stretch as Liberty steadily cut away at the lead. Radford was rattled;few shots were falling;their streak was seriously threatened by a little Baptist school in Lynchburg.

With less than 90 seconds left,Liberty finally pulled even at 67 points.Victory was within reach, and the fans could taste it On their feet they cried with hoarse voicesforthedefensetogettheball back. They did By now a person couldn't see straightforthedin Withlessthanaminute on the clock they desperately needed points Freshman Maxie Wilkerson took a pass from Karl Hess getting fouled in the process stopping the clock at 30 seconds The crowd screamed, then quieted to an almost deathly stillness as Wilkerson went to the line.The attempt was good, and the stands literally shook with the explosion of triumphant screams as the Flames took the lead for the first time in the game.

Now a super-inspired defense took charge The fans,with one eye on the clock and one eye on the court, pleaded for the team to hold the lead A shot went up for Radford Hearts almost stopped as itlooked good, but coming itseemed from nowhere was Ed Vickers He charged with a heroic leap and slammed the ball out of bounds The fans revived instantly with a deafening roar 8 seconds showed on the clock

Again the defense was in command as the inbounds play for Radford was forced deep towards mid-court The lastditch shot fellshort of the mark as the clock ran out Liberty Baptist had upset Radford,snapping the state's longest winning streak Pandemonium broke loose everywhere as delirious fans rushed onto the court in celebration of the come-frombehind victory.

6'8" Craig Sanders shoots a base-line jump hook againstValley Forge LBC won the game 107-76 with 31 points being their largest winning margin of the season

The Flames made their mark thisseason. The coaches and players had proved their abilities.The LBC basketball team was not to be taken lightly

Displaying the form that gave him a 27 point average on the season, Karl Hess lays one up against Bluefield Hess had nine 30 po-nt games and a season high of 43 points against Valley Forge

Mark Brooks breaks hold and stands up for an escape at the Nationals Brooks led all wrestlers with 15 pins on the season

The Wrestling team has a new hobby — collecting National Championship banners Smiling proudly are all the guys who made it happen at the Nationals with their third and latest banner

During a match at the Nationals, team cocaptain Wayne Brooks goes for the standing roll to gain five points Brooks was the only senior on the team